FM: Promising Future For Syria, Region Facing Determining Developments

Tehran, May 8, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Wednesday that a promising future is waiting for Syria and that the region is currently experiencing determining developments. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an international meeting on diplomacy here, Salehi said regarding the present situation in the region, Iran should be in regular contact with regional states to avoid any possible event which might have negative effects on the region. He added that his recent visits to Jordan and Syria were paid to exchange views with officials of the two countries over major bilateral, regional and international issues. Salehi said ˈproper and acceptableˈ decisions were made during his meeting with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. ˈPeople of Syria are vigilantly monitoring the ongoing situation,ˈ said the foreign minister. He added that Tehran expects ˈreal opponents of the Syrian government to distance themselves from mercenary groups and hold talks with the government over the countryˈs future.ˈ According to Salehi, President Assad voiced his readiness to hold talks with the opposition groups./end